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Further deduction may serve to an extent in these research areas, but a point will come where the method of inference must change. Rather than con- tinuing blindly with activities and data gathering because these are accepted standard procedures, the scientist must stop and ask "just what the question is, and what all the alternatives are" (Platt, 1964). And what's new about this? Nothing, for the concept extends back to Francis Bacon, and he, in fact, confesses borrowing it from Plato. We were taught in college to use our imaginations, devise multiple alternative hypotheses, design experiments to try and disprove them, and carry out the experiments with precise techniques. But today we seem to have lost sight of the techniques. Platt (1964) pointed out a major pitfall in biological research and suggested a way to avoid it when he stated that, "biology with its vast informational detail and complex- ity, is a 'high-information' field, where years and decades can easily be wasted on the usual type of 'low-information' observations or experiments if one does not think carefully in advance about what the most important and con- clusive experiments would be." This advice is highly relevant to research in fish and wildlife and, if heeded, could eliminate the all too common practice in research of groping our way through broad and multiple relationships toward generalized conclusions. The northern pike spawning marsh example illustrates the place of induc- tive inference by footnotes 1/, 2/, 3/, 4/. These need further imaginative development. First, the options-must be-examined critically for omissions. Second, each must be ranked in the light of knowledge, experience, and intui- tion for its timeliness, impact on the basic problem, and adaptability to experimentation so that the most important and potentially conclusive experi- ments may be done first. Third, alternative hypotheses must be devised and sharply focused at a crucial option. Fourth, experiments must be designed and carried out for possible alternative outcomes, aimed at excluding hypoth- eses. With a large number of options and variables, experiments designed for multiple exclusion are expedient, but more important are decisive results. PLANNING CONSIDERATIONS Aren't we really only trying anything that comes to mind? Put enough money into it and it will work. (Regier, 1968) This paper illustrates two forms of the spawning marsh plan. The centerfold display is graphic while that in the Appendix is typed. The typed form is sufficient and convenient for short plans of uncomplicated problems, and it may serve as a convenient record for filing. The graphic form is the more convenient for involved plans, and initial construction of step-down plans is facilitated by the graphic form using cork board or a wall area. The importance of planning for problem solving has been emphasized. There are four other uses and advantages of the graphic form of the step-down plan. First, planning should be a team effort. This form is convenient for review and comment by associates and other competent professionals. Second, it is convenient and understandable for administrative review. Frequently 11